Ezekiel Mutua's Defence of Passaris Ignites Kenyans' Wrath

Kenya Films Classifications Board (KFCB) chair Ezekiel Mutua was on the receiving end over his brazen defence of Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris' visit to India for medical treatment.

Taking to his social media platforms on Sunday, January 5, the often controversial 'moral police' took issues with the section of Kenyans who took issues with Passaris' revelation of her condition after treatment.

"You know that we are a sick society when people attack Esther Passaris for posting about her surgery in India. Listen, while we need universal health care, hating on leaders and posting bile does not improve the situation. There're better ways of pushing for better policy," Mutua posted.

On Friday, January 3, Passaris disclosed that she had spent her New Year's Eve at Care Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) Hospital in India.

"It was not my desire to be operated on abroad but unfortunately I just couldn't get a Kenyan team together. I was not getting a clear answer on the type of treatment I needed to effectively deal with the excruciating and chronic pain and I just couldn't wait any longer," Passaris tweeted.

While there were many who wished her well after she opened up, others felt that her sharing of such information was an affront to a huge part of Kenya's population who cannot access such specialized care.

The reactions to Mutua's post on Sunday were swift and harsh, despite his spirited attempts to argue his case out.

"Ezekiel Mutua is among the few privileged public servants whose medical insurance is over Ksh10 million taxpayers' money. He flies overseas to get treatment in the UK and USA public hospitals [SIC]. It's because they are greedy lunatics who think only about themselves as first-class citizens," CM Gitira lamented.

"You know, I concur with many of your sentiments but how much did she pay you for this tweet? Like someone has mentioned in the comments, Kenyans are angered by the fact that there's the Kawaida (average) Kenyan in the village that needs such medical services but all in vain," another social media user posted.

"It depends on the context upon which you choose to look at the issue. This is one individual who sits at the health Committee in Parliament, a legislator to say the least. Don't gag members' thinking and analysis of issues," Oduol Aluoch weighed in.